The 50 50 game is one of the drawing games offered by the Virginia Lottery. It is a raffle-style game where half of the total ticket sales are awarded as the jackpot prize, while the other half goes to fund K-12 public education in Virginia.
How to Play 50 50 in Virginia
Playing the 50 50 game in Virginia is easy. Tickets can be purchased for $5 each at any Virginia Lottery retailer, online at valottery.com, or through the Virginia Lottery app. Each ticket contains one six-digit number between 000000 and 999999. This number acts as your raffle entry to win prizes.
Tickets can be purchased during a specific sales period, usually a few days, leading up to the drawing. All tickets sold during this period are eligible for that drawing. Drawings are held every few months, and ticket sales periods and drawing dates are announced ahead of time on the Lottery’s website.
At the scheduled drawing time, the Lottery uses a random number generator to pick one winning six-digit number. The ticket holder who matches this number wins 50% of the total ticket sales for that drawing. The other 50% of sales is transferred to Virginia’s general fund for K-12 education.
Prize Payouts
With 50 50, there is only one prize to be won – 50% of the total ticket sales. For example, if 500,000 tickets were sold at $5 each for a total of $2.5 million, the winner would receive $1.25 million. The Lottery keeps the other $1.25 million to support K-12 schools.
The jackpot amount will vary from drawing to drawing based on the number of tickets sold. Jackpots typically fall in the range of $500,000 to $1 million. The odds of winning are based on the number of tickets sold. If 500,000 tickets are sold, the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 500,000.
Claiming Prizes
To claim a 50 50 jackpot prize in Virginia, winners have 180 days from the drawing date to confirm their winning ticket and come forward. The Lottery recommends signing the back of the ticket immediately after discovering you’ve won. The winner must contact the Virginia Lottery to schedule an appointment to submit the winning ticket and claim the prize.
The winner will choose between receiving the full amount in annual payments over 30 years or a one-time cash option of the prize amount discounted to its present cash value. State and federal taxes are withheld from either option. Lottery winnings over $600 are subject to federal withholding at a rate of 24% and Virginia state taxes at a rate of 4%.
Virginia 50 50 Game History
The 50 50 game first launched in Virginia in July 2020. Since then, it has quickly grown into one of the Virginia Lottery’s most popular offerings due to the high prize payouts. Here is a look back at some notable 50 50 jackpot winnings to date:
| Drawing Date | Tickets Sold | Total Sales | Jackpot |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 21, 2020 | 434,845 | $2,174,225 | $1,087,112 |
| December 1, 2020 | 825,722 | $4,128,610 | $2,064,305 |
| May 4, 2021 | 969,492 | $4,847,460 | $2,423,730 |
| September 28, 2021 | 1,014,319 | $5,071,595 | $2,535,797 |
| March 1, 2022 | 946,659 | $4,733,295 | $2,366,647 |
As seen in the table, both ticket sales and jackpot amounts have trended upwards over time. The largest jackpot awarded in the Virginia 50 50 game so far is $2,535,797 from the September 2021 drawing.
Odds of Winning 50 50 in Virginia
The odds of winning the 50 50 jackpot prize depend directly on the number of tickets sold for that drawing. The more tickets purchased, the lower the odds of winning. For example:
- If 250,000 tickets are sold, the odds are 1 in 250,000
- If 500,000 tickets are sold, the odds are 1 in 500,000
- If 1 million tickets are sold, the odds are 1 in 1,000,000
While the jackpot odds fluctuate, one fact remains constant – 50% of total sales always gets awarded to the winner. With 50 50, half of the money taken in gets paid out, increasing players’ chances to win a big payout.
How Jackpot Winnings Are Taxed
50 50 jackpot winnings in Virginia are subject to both federal and state tax withholding. Here is how taxes are handled on 50 50 prizes:
- Federal taxes: 24% flat tax rate is withheld on lottery prizes over $5,000.
- State taxes: 4% tax rate is withheld for Virginia state income tax.
- The prize winner is responsible for any additional taxes owed when filing returns.
- Both annual annuity payments and one-time cash options have taxes withheld upfront.
For example, on a $1 million jackpot with the cash option, approximately $240,000 would be withheld for federal taxes and $40,000 for state taxes. This would leave $720,000 in immediate cash paid to the winner. Taxes withheld upfront may cover the winner’s full tax burden, but winners should consult a tax advisor to determine if they need to make additional payments.
How Lottery Proceeds Support Virginia Schools
The Virginia Lottery was founded in 1987 with the purpose of generating funds for Virginia’s K-12 public schools. The Lottery has raised over $11 billion for education since inception. All Lottery profits, including the 50% of 50 50 sales not awarded as prizes, go to this beneficial cause.
Virginia Lottery profits comprise approximately 10% of total state funding for public education. Money is distributed to school divisions through the Virginia Department of Education. Local schools can use these funds for needs like constructing and maintaining school buildings, purchasing school supplies and technology, and funding teacher salaries and professional development.
By playing 50 50 and other Virginia Lottery games, players are contributing to the educational opportunities available to over 1 million Virginia students statewide. Lottery funds help schools provide tools, resources, and programming to give students the brightest future possible.
Is 50 50 a Raffle or a Lottery?
While similar to a raffle, the 50 50 game offered by the Virginia Lottery is considered a lottery product. There are a few key differences between 50 50 and a traditional raffle:
- 50 50 is conducted by the Lottery under government regulation, while raffles are typically independent fundraising events.
- Anyone in Virginia can play 50 50, while raffles have localized participation.
- 50 50 tickets are $5 each, while raffle tickets can be various prices.
- 50 50 has longer entry timeframes and less frequent drawings versus raffles.
Raffles usually have smaller prizes and benefit a specific cause, like a school fundraiser. 50 50 has much larger jackpots with statewide participation to benefit all Virginia public schools.
Why Lottery Jackpots Are Larger than Raffles
There are a few key reasons why lottery jackpots like 50 50 can grow so much larger than typical raffle prizes:
- Statewide participation – Lotteries draw from entire state populations, while raffles have localized participation.
- $5 tickets – The high per-ticket price allows lotteries to build bigger prize pools.
- Rollover jackpots – Unsold lotteries often roll jackpots over to the next drawing.
- Lengthy entry periods – Lotteries have ticket sales over multiple days or weeks.
With 50 50, the prize pool is guaranteed to reach at least $250,000 since one ticket equals $5 toward the jackpot. With so many tickets sold statewide over weeks-long entry periods, the jackpot can climb into the multimillion-dollar range. Raffles with smaller participant pools, lower ticket prices, and shorter entry periods can’t achieve these prize levels.
Pros of Playing the 50 50 Lottery Game
Playing the 50 50 lottery game offered by the Virginia Lottery has several advantages:
- Huge jackpots – 50 50 jackpots often reach $1 million or more.
- Good odds – Your chances of winning are better than most other lottery games.
- Benefits education – Half of ticket sales support K-12 schools in Virginia.
- Easy to play – Just pick your numbers and wait for the drawing.
- Fewer taxes – Prizes have lower withholding rates than games like Powerball.
With the potential for multimillion-dollar jackpots and better odds than games like Mega Millions, 50 50 offers players an exciting opportunity to win big. Plus, you get to support educational initiatives across Virginia.
Cons of Playing the 50 50 Lottery Game
The downsides of playing the 50 50 lottery game include:
- Still low odds – Despite better odds than some games, jackpot odds are at least 1 in 250,000.
- High ticket cost – $5 tickets are more expensive than scratchers or Pick 3/4.
- Low secondary prizes – The jackpot is the only prize paid out.
- Less accessible – Tickets must be bought during specific sales periods.
While 50 50 offers your best shot at lottery riches in Virginia, the odds are still very low. And you have to pay more per ticket for a chance to win versus other Lottery games. But for players looking to chase that elusive jackpot, 50 50 provides the most direct shot.
How Does 50 50 Compare to Powerball and Mega Millions?
| 50 50 | Powerball | Mega Millions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tickets | $5 | $2 | $2 |
| Jackpot Odds | 1 in 250,000 to 500,000 | 1 in 292 million | 1 in 302 million |
| Tax Withholding | 24% federal, 4% state | 24% federal, 4-8% state | 24% federal, 4-8% state |
| Jackpot Size | $500,000-$2 million | Hundreds of millions | Hundreds of millions |
| Games Per Week | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Compared to multistate giants Powerball and Mega Millions, 50 50 jackpots are smaller but the odds are significantly better. With just one drawing per week versus two for Powerball and Mega Millions, 50 50 offers less frequent but more attainable millionaire-making opportunities.
How to Improve Your Odds in the 50 50 Game
While odds to win 50 50 are better than most lottery games, they are still quite slim. Here are a few tips to maximize your chances at winning:
- Buy more tickets – Your odds scale directly with number of tickets purchased.
- Join a pool – Splitting ticket costs with others allows you to buy more entries.
- Purchase early – Be first to buy when sales open to secure the lowest available numbers.
- Choose unusual numbers – Avoid common patterns that multiple people may pick.
The key is to get your tickets early and acquire as many as possible within your budget. Buying at least 10 or 20 tickets per drawing will put you in a better position to possibly win.
How to Play 50 50 Safely and Responsibly
While playing the 50 50 lottery is fun entertainment, it’s important to keep your play safe and responsible by following these guidelines:
- Only spend discretionary income – Never use rent or grocery money on lottery tickets.
- Set a budget – Determine what you can afford to lose ahead of time.
- Keep play recreational – Don’t think of lottery as a way to make money.
- Avoid excessive play – Don’t get caught up in chasing losses.
- Use winnings wisely – Invest major winnings conservatively over time.
By sticking to your means, keeping perspective and avoiding risky behaviors, 50 50 can be enjoyed safely as the fun, recreational pursuit it is meant to be.
50 50 – An Exciting Virginia-Exclusive Lottery Game
With jackpots starting at a guaranteed $250,000 and often climbing over $1 million, 50 50 offers Virginians an in-state lottery game with exciting prize potential. Better odds versus massive multistate lotteries give players a more realistic shot at hitting it big. Plus, half of all sales go back to benefit K-12 education across the Commonwealth.
50 50 provides Virginia lottery players their best opportunity to take home a jackpot prize – even if the odds are less than favorable. That elusive chance at instant wealth will continue driving ticket sales and growing Virginia’s newest homegrown jackpot game.
